Method and kit for mixing 2-cycle engine fuel and oil

ABSTRACT

A kit for providing pre-mixed gas and oil for a 2-cycle engine, the kit comprising: 
     a) a plurality of premeasured packets of oil, with each of said packets containing about 0.6 ounces of engine oil; 
     b) a container having a viewing portion that allows the user to observe the level of gas inside the container; said viewing portion being marked with markings that indicate the appropriate fill level for filling the container with gas to obtain a mixture of gas and oil at a desired gas:oil mixture ratio when one packet of oil is added to the container; said markings being effective to indicate gas:oil mixtures of 16:1, 32:1, 40:1, and 50:1.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/449,105, filed Mar. 4, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Two-cycle engines typically require fuel having oil mixed in the fuel to function properly. Generally, a gas can is filled with a certain amount of fuel and the proper amount of oil is added to the can. The gas/oil mixture is then used to fuel a two-cycle engine.

For example, if the engine requires a 16:1 mixture of gas:oil, eight ounces of oil is mixed in a can containing one gallon of gas.

With gas cans that are opaque the user cannot see the amount of gas that is inside. This makes it difficult to see how much gas is in the can, and makes controlling the gas:oil mixture ratio virtually impossible unless the oil is added when a specific and known amount of gas is added to the can.

Also, providing oil in quart cans or bottles makes it inconvenient to measure and provide a lesser amount of oil as required.

A need therefore exists for a kit and method for efficiently mixing gas and oil for two-cycle engines. The present invention addresses that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A kit for providing pre-mixed gas and oil for a 2-cycle engine, comprising:

a) a plurality of premeasured packets of oil, with each of said packets containing about 0.6 ounces of engine oil;

b) a container having a viewing portion or window sized and effective for allowing a user to observe the level of gas inside the container; said viewing window being marked with markings that indicate the appropriate fill level for filling the container with gas to obtain a mixture of gas and oil at a desired gas:oil mixture ratio when one packet of oil is added to the container; said markings being effective to indicate gas:oil mixtures of 16:1, 32:1, 40:1, and 50:1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention, and particularly of a jug with a holder to hold pre-measured packets of oil.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a jug with a clear or translucent window through which the level of gas in the jug may be observed

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a packet of oil that may be provided with the jug/oil kit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Two-stroke engines such as are used for chainsaws, string trimmers, etc., cannot be lubricated by oil contained in their crankcase and sump, since the crankcase is already being used to pump a fuel-air mixture into the cylinder. While some modern two-stroke engines use lubrication pumped from a separate tank of oil, the traditional way of providing lubrication was to use a pre-mixed blend of fuel and oil. The blend is typically mixed by the engine user, according to a mix ration of between 16:1 and 50:1 designated by the engine manufacturer.

To facilitate mixing the fuel and oil, the present invention provides a kit that includes a container and one or more packets of oil. Each packet of oil provides a single-use amount of oil for a user who needs a small amount of pre-mixed fuel and oil at a common mix ratio. The container is marked with one or more indicators of the appropriate amount of fuel for use with one or more of the oil packets. The container may include markings for more than one common fuel:oil mix ratio.

In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a kit that includes one or more packets of oil, with each packet containing about 0.6 ounces of oil. The container is a 36 ounce jug with indents in the side to facilitate gripping the container. The container is clear plastic, or at least clear enough to allow the user to observe the level of gas contained inside. The container is marked with a series of lines that indicate: 1) the amount of gas that is necessary to dilute one 0.6 ounce packet of oil to a 16:1 dilution level; 2) the amount of gas that is necessary to dilute one 0.6 ounce packet of oil to a 32:1 dilution level; 3) the amount of gas that is necessary to dilute one 0.6 ounce packet of oil to a 40:1 dilution level; and 4) the amount of gas that is necessary to dilute one 0.6 ounce packet of oil to a 50:1 dilution level.

To use the kit to provide pre-mixed fuel and oil for an engine requiring a 40:1 fuel:oil mix ratio, the container is filled to the line that indicates the 40:1 mix ratio and one 0.6 ounce packet of oil is added. The oil and gas are mixed by swirling the container. The mixture is enough to fill the 12 ounce fuel tank of a typical string trimmer several times, and avoids leaving a can full of unused gas and oil at the end of the job.

In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a kit that includes a plastic jug and one or more packets of oil, with each packet containing a selected amount of oil that is between about one-half ounce and one ounce of oil. The jug is marked to indicate a certain volume of gas, which is preferably between 16 ounces and 32 ounces. The amount of oil in each packet is selected to provide a desired and specific fuel:oil mixture ratio when one packet of oil is added to a “full” jug of gas. That is, the size of the jug and the oil packets are coordinated to that one packet of oil and one jug of gas provides a 16:1 fuel:oil mixture in the jug (with a full jug being indicated by filling the jug to an indicated fill line). Alternatively, the jug and oil packets may be sized to provide a 32:1 fuel:oil mixture when one packet of oil is added to one jug of gas, or a 40:1 fuel:oil mixture when one packet of oil is added to one jug of gas, or a 50:1 fuel:oil mixture when one packet of oil is added to one jug of gas. The jug and oil packets may alternatively be sized to provide other fuel:oil mixture ratios if desired.

In another embodiment the jug is as described above, but the kit includes a measuring spoon or scoop for measuring and pouring oil into the jug. The measuring scoop is sized to measure an amount of oil that is between about 0.5 ounces and 1.0 ounce, and is preferably about 0.6 ounces. The jug may be made of a plastic that is clear enough to allow the user to observe the amount of gas in the jug, or a viewing window to allow a user to view the contents through the window may be provided. Markings are provided on the jug and/or the viewing window to indicate the amount of gas that is needed to dilute one measuring spoon to a desired fuel:oil mixture ratio.

As described above, the jug is filled until the user views the level in the jug to be at or near the line that indicates a desired fuel:oil mix ration (e.g., a 40:1 mix ratio) and one scoop or packet of oil is added. The oil and gas are mixed by swirling the container. The mixture is enough to fill the fuel tank of a typical string trimmer, chainsaw, etc., several times, and avoids leaving a can full of unused gas and oil at the end of the job.

In another embodiment the jug may be sized to accommodate multiple packets or scoops of oil. The markings on the jug indicate the amount of gas that should be added to accommodate the multiple packets or scoops of oil according to a desired gas:oil mixture ratio.

In all of the above embodiments the jug may include a spout to facilitate pouring the gas:oil mixture into the fuel tank of a small 2-cycle engine. A cap may be provided on the spout. The jug may also include a handle to facilitate pouring.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a jug 10 with markings 12 to indicate the appropriate amount of gas to go with one 0.6 ounce packet 11 of oil. Markings 12 a through 12-d are provided to indicate fuel:oil mixtures of 16:1 (12 a), 32:1 (12 b), 40:1 (12 c), and 50:1 (12 d). A spout 14 with a cap 15 is provided at the top of the jug. A screw cap 16 and an air vent 17 are also provided. Jug 10 includes indents 18 to facilitate gripping the jug.

FIG. 2 shows a jug 20 with markings 12 to indicate the appropriate amount of gas to go with one or two spoonfuls 21 of oil. Markings 22 a through 22 d are provided to indicate fuel:oil mixtures of 40:1 when one spoonful of oil is used (22 a), 50:1 when one spoonful of oil is used (22 b), 40:1 when two spoonfuls of oil are used (22 c), and 50:1 when two spoonfuls of oil are used (22 d). A spout 24 with a cap 25 is provided at the top of the jug. A screw cap 26 and an air vent 27 are also provided. Jug 20 includes a handle 28 to facilitate holding and pouring from the jug. Measuring spoon 22 is shown hanging along the side of the jug, as may be done when the spoon is attached to a hanger that may be attached to the jug.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate additional features of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a jug with a clear or translucent window through which the level of gas in the jug may be observed, and a holder for holding packets of oil. FIG. 5 shows a single-use packet of oil that may be provided in the holder and mixed with gas from the jug to provide the appropriate gas:oil mixture for a particular engine. In other embodiments, the window may be marked with marking such as are shown in FIGS. 1-3 to indicate the amount of oil that should be added to provide a desired gas:oil mixture when the jug is filled to the indicator line with gas.

To use the kit, a user fills the jug to a mark indicating a desired gas:oil mixture ratio (e.g., the 16:1 ratio) and adds oil from the accompanying packets or in the accompanying scoop until the amount of oil indicated by the marking is added. For example, it a 16:1 ratio is desired, the user would fill the jug to the one or two gallon line and add 8 or 16 ounces of oil. The cap is secured and the jug is swirled or shaken to mix the gas and oil together. The gas/oil blend may then be used in a two-cycle engine.

In some uses the jug will have an undetermined amount of gas (possibly with oil mixed in) in the jug when it is desired to add more. In that case, the user observes the amount of gas that is added and add the appropriate amount of oil from the scoop or packets.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only some preferred embodiments have been shown and described, and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 

1. A kit for providing pre-mixed gas and oil for a 2-cycle engine, the kit comprising: a) a plurality of premeasured packets of oil, with each of said packets containing about 0.6 ounces of engine oil; b) a container having a viewing portion that allows the user to observe the level of gas inside the container; said viewing portion being marked with markings that indicate the appropriate fill level for filling the container with gas to obtain a mixture of gas and oil at a desired gas:oil mixture ratio when one packet of oil is added to the container; said markings being effective to indicate gas:oil mixtures of 16:1, 32:1, 40:1, and 50:1. 